Angels' Weaver pitches no-hitter in victory over Twins

ANAHEIM, Calif. _ At times during the past couple years, Jered Weaver must have felt like he needed to throw a no-hitter in order to get a win.

He didn't need to Wednesday night but he did anyway.

Weaver allowed just two baserunners (one on a third strike passed ball, the other on a walk) in throwing the ninth individual no-hitter in franchise history as the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins, coming to life offensively in a 9-0 victory.

"It still hasn't totally sunk in yet," said Weaver after celebrating on the field with his parents and his wife, all of whom were at the game Wednesday night. "It's so surreal. It was awesome to have my parents here, my wife and knowing my brother was watching (on television) and had so many friends watching.

"It's an awesome moment."

Weaver's first career no-hitter is the first by an Angel at home since Mike Witt and Mark Langston combined to no-hit the Mariners on April 11, 1990. Langston was there to watch Wednesday's, working as the color commentator on the Angels' radio broadcast.

It is the second no-hitter in the majors this season (joining Phillip Humber's perfect game for the White Sox) and the second in less than 10 months by an Angel. Ervin Santana threw a no-hitter in Cleveland on July 27, 2011.

"I was going to go through the wall on that one," said Torii Hunter who ran down Alexi Casilla's fly ball over his head for the final out of the game. "I was playing shallow and just got back on my horse and all I was thinking was, 'Get it. Get it. Get it.'

"Weave pitched a terrific game. He deserved it. I was going to run into the wall, go through the wall, knock myself out, be out 5, 10 days _ but he was going to have a no-hitter."

Hunter's catch to secure the no-hitter was less dramatic than he made it sound. Ironically, it might have been Mark Trumbo who made the best defensive play of the night, the only one needed to save the no-hitter.

Jamey Carroll dropped a bunt towards third base with one out in the third inning that Trumbo charged in, bare-handed and threw Carroll out.

"I felt like I was in good position. I was in there," said Trumbo who has started just seven games at third base in his career (all since converting this spring). "I'm never really surprised when someone tries to drop one down on me over there.

"Earlier today, I was out working on some things like that (play). I just went back to that."

The Twins' first baserunner came in the second inning when a third strike to Chris Parmelee got by Angels catcher Chris Iannetta for a passed ball. Weaver go the next batter to pop out and retired 15 consecutive batters into the seventh inning when Josh Willingham worked a two-out walk.

The only other brush with a hit the Twins managed came in the eighth inning when Trevor Plouffe pulled a long fly ball down the left field line. The ball curved foul and Plouffe popped out.

"I didn't look at it," said Weaver, well aware of the no-hitter by then. "I was going to go off the fans' judgment. They cheered so I figured it went foul.

"That was the only fastball in I threw him all game. He put a charge into it. Luckily it went foul."

Weaver has come close to a no-hitter before and was even part of an odd one in 2008. He and Jose Arredondo combined to hold the Dodgers hitless for eight innings but lost on June 28, 2008.

This time, he got plenty of offensive support from the Angels' struggling offense. The nine runs matched a season-high and the Angels' 15 hits were a new season-high.

Weaver finished with nine strikeouts in a dominant performance. But he said he never felt he had taken no-hit stuff to the mound.

"I don't think so," he said. "I wasn't throwing 97 or 98 (mph) up there. It was the same 'poo-poo' I've been throwing up there all year. They just hit the ball at people. A lot of things have to go right to throw a no-hitter. I have to give it up to my defense and my offense for making it easier on me and Chris (Iannetta) was throwing down the right fingers. We were really on the same page all game.

"It's awesome, an unbelievable experience. ... I just checked my phone and I have 66 messages. I didn't even know I had 66 numbers in my phone. I won't be able to get back to everyone tonight. I'll have to spread the love tomorrow."